Premier backs PNG processing plan

The West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has welcomed a Federal Government proposal to establish a regional processing centre for asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea.

PNG's Foreign Minister has confirmed that Australia has asked his country to house a regional processing centre but says no decision has been made.

Mr Barnett says a facility in PNG would ease the pressure on immigration detention centres at Christmas Island and Villawood.

He says there is bound to be trouble when facilities such as those on Christmas Island are overcrowded.

"Well sites need to be found," he said. "I think it's important to have sites off the Australian mainland that make it easier to deal with the situation rather than having rights of appeal and all the rest of it under Australian law.

"There is no doubt once asylum seekers come onto the Australian mainland, it is very difficult to encourage them to return to their own homelands, so I think if people cannot be managed on Christmas Island obviously the numbers are too great, then if New Guinea can provide a site I think that should be used."